Woman sentenced to probation in drug case

Published 10:47 am Friday, December 9, 2016

An Emmons woman originally charged with first-degree meth possession was placed on supervised probation for up to five years Thursday in Freeborn County District Court.

Jocelyn Pater, 19, was sentenced after pleading guilty to fifth-degree possession of lorazepam in August. She was sentenced to 44 days in jail and was given credit for 44 days served.

Pater was given a stay of adjudication, meaning if she successfully completes probation her conviction would be removed from her record.

Jocelyn Pater

Jocelyn Pater

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Pater was charged after Minnesota Department of Corrections agents and a Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office deputy conducted a visit to her home June 23 in Alden.

Empty beer bottles and a clear glass pipe that later tested positive for methamphetamine were reportedly seen. An agent reportedly found a homemade smoking device under a bathroom sink that contained fluid that later measured as 8.7 ounces of water — approximately 246 grams — and tested positive for meth.

Pill bottles found to contain lorazepam and oxycodone were also reportedly found. Three baggies reportedly found with meth weighed 3.06 grams.

A small torch and a lighter commonly used to smoke meth were found at the residence, court documents state.

Pater originally also faced charges of fifth-degree oxycodone possession and fifth-degree meth possession, but those charges, along with the first-degree meth charge, were dismissed.

David Wesley Neely was charged with first- and fifth-degree meth possession, fifth-degree oxycodone possession and fifth-degree lorazepam possession in connection with the incident. He died in a car crash last month.

About Sam Wilmes

Sam Wilmes covers crime, courts and government for the Albert Lea Tribune.

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